Verañas Royales I: Of Blues and Fire

Kabanata 23

"Hey. Wake up. We're here.."

Magaang tinapik ni Prinsipe Johannes ang pisngi ni Lyca para ito ay magising. Nakatulog kasi ito sa kahabaan ng byahe nila at siguro'y napagod na rin sa pakikinig sa kanyang mga litanya.

"Hmm.."

The royal with golden hair chuckled a bit when she stirred a little. Nangunot lamang ang pagmumukha nito pero hindi ito nagmulat ng mga mata. Sa halip, humarap lamang ito sa kanyang direksyon. A tiny smile formed in his lips. He raised his arm and glanced at his wrist watch. Binalingan niya rin muna ng tingin iyong araw na nagsisimula pa lamang namang lumubog. Kararating lamang nila at may nalalabi pang oras.

Habang nagpapakawala ng hininga ay tinaas niya iyong isa niyang kamay sa may upuan ng sasakyan at isinandal doon ang ulo niya. Sa paraang iyon, mapapagmasdan niya ng husto ang mukha ng mapapangasawa. Gumawa ulit ng linya pataas ang sulok ng kanyang bibig.

From her pair of thick eyebrows pababa sa kanyang mga nakapikit na mga mata, kitang-kita iyong malalantik niyang mga pilik. He remembered how those fluttered open slowly one time, they hugged in that dim corner of the Palace. Her perfectly pointed nose and rosy cheeks. Pinagtataka niyang malarosas pa rin ang kulay ng mga iyon gayong hindi naman gaanong mainit ang panahon. Naging maputi pa tuloy ang kutis nito dahil doon.

Lastly, his coffee orbs landed on her lips. Bahagyang nakabuka ang mga iyon na parang enenganyo siyang halikan ang mga ito. He gulped and felt something inside him. Oh, how he wanted to feel those soft and sweet mouth of hers again. Although he was just staring at them, he can still remember that memory of him kissing her until they were out of breath. Hell, she even grabbed him by his nape to deepen their kiss. Napapangiti na lamang siya habang naaalala ang mga iyon.

Lumayo siya sa mukha nito nang makitang gagahibla na lamang ang natitira at maidadampi na niya ang kanyang mga labi dito. Pinilig niya ang kanyang ulo. Mahirap na. Baka sabihin na naman nitong sinasamantala ang pagkakataon or must worst, accuse him being a rapist. Knowing her strong behavior, hindi malabong mangyari iyon.

He have chosen a complete beauty yet a weird, aloof and Amazona kind of a woman.

Napailing-iling siya sa kanyang sarili. Look at him now. The woman was leisurely picking his interest. Or, was it past tense? Bakit mukhang nabaligtad ata? She was supposedly the one who'll fall on his trap.

Nung una ay wala talaga siyang pake sa dalaga kahit anong gawin nito. But now, he wanted to know more about her. He wanted to listen her side stories, her past and pain. Maybe.. got to share with her pain? At the same time, gusto rin niyang maging open ulit ito sa kanyang mga magulang na para dito ay sagabal lamang sa kanyang buhay. Hindi naman sa gusto niya itong pake-alaman, gusto niya lamang ipaintindi dito na may ilang bagay itong pinapaniwalaan na kailangang itama.

He wanted her to heal as a person.

He wanted to take care of her.

Hazel meets coffee orbs. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Lyca nang makitang nakatitig sa kanya si Prinsipe Johannes. Naging self-conscious tuloy siya bigla. She pretended not to notice their close proximity and looked away.

"Nasaan tayo?" She rubbed her eyes as she turned over to the sea near them. The elegant splashing of the waves resonated their ears.

Sa halip na sumagot, lumabas lamang ang pangalawang prinsipe sa kanyang sasakyan at umikot papunta sa kanya. He raised again his one arm and glanced at his watch. Maya-maya pa ay binuksan na rin nito ang pintuan kung saan siya nakaupo at hinila siya sa balingusan, papunta sa tabing-dagat.

Kahit na naguguluhan ay sumama pa rin siya sa prinsipe. They jogged down the stairs towards the sea at pakiramdam ni Lyca ay matatanggal ang ulo niya anytime. She casted her eyes to the royalty and saw his beaming, as if excited on what was about to happen.

Weird. The throb on her head subsided.

Pagkarating nila sa pampang ay bumagal ang mga hakbang nito. The water approached his toes from the sandals he's wearing. Tiningnan niya lamang ito sa isang tabi habang pinagmamasdan ang papalubog na araw. She took a step forward and appreciate the view in in front of them.

The sky was orange, black and indigo. The colors was mixed and exploded through the wide night. The sun was already setting and now, hiding down through the clouds, with the moon already rising, little by little on the side. Ang mga bituin ay kumikinang-kinang sa langit na parang kinikinditan silang dalawa ng prinsipe.

"It's beautiful right? Mabuti nakaabot tayo.."

Humampas ang hangin sa mukha ni Lyca at naging dahilan para madala nito ang kanyang buhok. She tucked the strands of her hair behind her ears and saw the most beautiful view that night.

It's quite dark and Prince Johannes was not that close to her. Pero sa pagkakataong iyon, malinaw na malinaw ang bawat detalye ng mukha nito sa kanya.

He was smiling while looking at the sun settling down. His chinky eyes were no longer visible dahil singkit na singkit pa ang mga iyon, dahil sa lawak ng pagkakangiti nito. Ang kanyang gintong buhok ay napapayid na rin ng hangin at waring nagpadagdag pa sa gwapo nitong pagmumukha. She literally catch her breath. Hindi niya alam na kanina pa pala niya pinipigilan ang sariling huminga.

Oh doomed.

She instantly looked away. She felt the heat coming from her cheeks. Dahan-dahan niyang tinampal ang sarili. What the hell is she doing?

Ang sabi niya lang interesado siya pero wala namang titigan sana na mangyari. She shook her head. Kailangan niyang pigilan ang kung anumang umuusbong doon sa pasaway niyang puso.

"It's actually my birthday today.."

Nang tumalikod naman siya dito ay bigla naman itong nagsalita. Parang may sariling utak ang katawan niya at pumihit paharap dito. Naiinis siya. Napakabilis magbago ng isip niya.

"And.." Huminga ito ng malalim. "It's my parents' death anniversary.." Tumunghay ito sa kanya, making a smirk from his lips. "What do you think's the one, I'll celebrate?"

Lyca was only silent on the corner, just listening to the prince. It's obvious that she didn't have to answer his question, dahil alam niyang may sagot na para doon.

Kaya pala nakita niya itong umalis kanina ng Palasyo ganap na alas singko ng umaga. Iyon pala ay death anniversary ng mga magulang ng mga ito. Oddly, her chest felt heavy.

"I don't celebrate my birthday. Do you know why?" With his one hand shoved inside his pocket, he put weight on the other leg, completely engrossed in what he's saying.

Kumuha ito ng bato sa katabi at hinagis sa dagat, the prince hair bounced from the action. Nangunot ang noo nito na waring may pinipigil sa sarili.

"It reminds me of their death.." Hindi alam ni Lyca kung guni-guni niya lamang ba iyon pero parang kuminang ang sulok ng mata nito. "Na.. there's more to it. There's more to the accident happened years ago and I need to avenge them.." His voice is getting hoarse. "Na dapat huwag akong mag-aksaya ng oras and that I need to know the whole truth.."

Lumamlam ang mga mata ni Lyca habang pinapakinggan si Prinsipe Johannes. She wanted to comfort him with words but nothing came out from her mouth. Siguro, dahil alam niyang hindi ito ang klase ng comfort na kailangan nito. So, she just let him let out his highly, bottled up emotions.

"That is the reason why I wanted to win the throne, all this time.." The excellent strategist faced towards her, wearing that serious expression all over his face. "I need to be more powerful so I hope, you can help me achieve that Lyca.."

"Your Majesty.." The woman in sentence took a step forward to the prince, her sandaled feet already wet from the clashing tiny waves. She tilted her head and met his tantalizing eyes. "Did you know there are many means to do that and not just by only having the throne?" She was actually throwing the question to him, but at the same time, letting him realize something. "You can hire someone to investigate the case but becoming powerful can be dangerous. You have to deal with evil, or worse.." She paused, adding emphasis. "Becoming evil yourself.."

Tumawa ito ng sarkastiko, iyong mga kamay ay nasa magkabilang baywang habang nakatingin sa dulo ng dagat. "I've already told myself about that.." Umiling-iling ito sa kanyang direksyon. "Siguro sa iba, oo. Pwede silang gumawa ng iba pang paraan but for me, the throne's the only way.."

Unti-unting namawis ang mga palad ni Lyca. Naiintindihan naman niya ang malalim na pinaghuhugutan ni Prinsipe Johannes. Being an orphan in early childhood, with his brother having mental difficulties along the way, he bore all of them himself and that must be really hard. Kailangan niyang palakasin ang sarili pero ewan ba niya. Ayaw niyang mas nakikitang magbago ang prinsipe dahil sa kagustuhang maipaghiganti ang mga magulang. Natatakot siyang baka magbagong bigla ito. She let out a huff and walked towards the body of water.

"What—" Nakasangga ang isang kamay ni Prinsipe Johan sa kanyang mukha at nakakunot noong tiningnan ang kanyang bride to be. "What exactly are you doing, Lyca?"

"Oops.." Binaba nito ang kamay na ginamit sa pagtalsik ng tubig sa dagat papunta sa direksyon niya. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. Hinawakan ko lamang ang tubig kung malamig.."

Actually ay wala naman siyang intensyon talaga na wisikan ang mahal na prinsipe ng tubig pero dahil kailangan niyang maishift ang mood ay ginawa na lamang niya. Isa pa, ibang-iba ang pagmumukha nito kanina. Malungkot at napakaseryoso. Hindi naman siya nagsisisi sa ginawa dahil nagbago ang pagmumukha nito. Ngumiti siya ng palihim at tinalikuran na ito.

"You can't just leave like that. Halika dito!"

Malalaking hakbang ang ginawa ni Prinsipe Johannes at hinila siya pabalik sa pwesto nito. Huli na ng malaman niyang tinulak siya ng prinsipe pabagsak sa dagat. Nabasa ang kanyang bestida. Rinig na rinig niya ang malulutong nitong pagtawa.

Syempre, magpapahuli ba siya?

Lyca got up and scooped a handful of water from her both hands. Tinapon niya iyon sa banda ng prinsipe. Hindi pa siya nakontento at sunod sunod na ginawa iyon, making water splashing sounds.

Making him wet.

Making them all drenched.

But at least, the prince is happy.

"O, ayan! Sige! Hahahaha!"

"Sandali lang! Time-out!"

He circled his long arms over her waist and turned around. Their giggles and laughs were heard in the seashore while their two assistants were looking at them with helpless eyes. Sambit-sambit ang mga katagang tamis raw ng unang pag-ibig at anong katangahang ginagawa nila at naghahabulan sa dalampasigan.

Binuhat ni Prinsipe Johannes si Lyca at anyong iikot muli sa pangalawang pagkakataon. Pero mabilis ang mapapangasawa. Inalis nito ang kanyang mga braso sa kanyang baywang at tinulak siyang muli. Napahiga siya roon at nabasa pang husto ang kanyang katawan. Napahilamos siya sa kanyang mukha.

"Nanalo ako! Yehey!" Umalingaw-ngaw ang tawa nito sa kanyang pandinig. Tinaas pa nito iyong mga braso sa ere na para ngang nanalo sa isang larong hindi naman niya matandaang napagkasunduan nila. "I won against you, Your Majesty!"

Sa tagpong iyon parang huminto at bumagal ang paggalaw ng lahat. The crystals formed from the water shined and he felt like it stopped mid-air. Tumibok ng mabilis ang kanyang dibdib na kinailangan niyang kalmutin ang buhangin.

As the prince remembered Lyca's every detail, hiding it like a treasure from his memory, he came to a conclusion. His lips broke into a smile.

Bumangon siya at gamit ang mahahabang biyas, humakbang siya papalapit dito. Her bride to be can only narrowed her eyes at him, absolutely abrupted by his action.

Pinadaan niya iyong hinalalaki at hintuturo sa kanyang basang buhok, padausdos sa likod ng tenga nito para maitago ang hibla doon. He grazed his thumb against her cheeks getting rosy and warm at the moment, tilting her chin to look up at him. Huminga siya ng malalim habang tinitingnan ito ng mataman.

"You're right, you won.." He whispered huskily. Pinaglapat ng prinsipe ang kanilang mga noo, his thumb brushing her lower lip. "Why are you doing this to me, Lyca?"

And just like that, he claimed her lips.

Kung sana ay ganon na lamang parati ang lahat.